In this reflective interview conducted by Teona Lavrelashvili, former CVP chairman Marc Van Peel offers a personal and political portrait of Wilfried Martens, the architect behind the European People’s Party’s (EPP) transformation into Europe’s leading political force. Drawing on his own experiences in Belgian and European politics, Van Peel explores Martens’s strategic vision, his ability to unite Christian Democratic, centrist and conservative parties, and the sometimes controversial decisions—such as the inclusion of Forza Italia—that tested the boundaries of EPP identity. While acknowledging disagreements with Martens at the time, Van Peel ultimately credits his pragmatic leadership and long-term thinking for solidifying the EPP’s influence in the European Parliament. The discussion also revisits the enduring relevance of Christian Democracy as a political philosophy grounded in human dignity, social justice and balanced governance. In an age of rising populism and fragmentation, Van Peel argues that Martens’s legacy offers a clear lesson: principled leadership, anchored in values but open to strategic compromise, remains vital for the EPP’s future.